Quality Improvement Report
Quality improvement (QI) in health care is the activity of delivering medical services as per the wishes and needs of all the stake holders in health care. Quality improvement is achieved after a thorough and keen analysis of the institution and all its aspects through a scheme known as quality management. Quality management requires a manager to assess the current state of the institution, and note requirements of all the stakeholders thus removing the issue of blame games and minimizing errors in the institution (Otto, 2005). The clinicians and the patient who are stakeholders administer health. Stakeholders have their own definition of quality, determined by their individual roles in the scheme and interest. Quality improvement is attained by various bodies that are in charge through accrediting and regulating health care (Lim, 2003).
The foundational frameworks of quality improvement (QI) in health care consist of quality assurance, which is the, orderly task performed in a quality system such that the requirements of quality for a commodity are achieved through quality management. Second, there should be a framework of quality control, which is a process where all the positive attributes of a commodity are examined to find out any defective that may be present (Otto, 2005). The other fundamental framework is the quality planning, which is a systematic procedure than transforms quality policy into quantifiable requirements and provides the algorithm for arriving at them within a given duration.
Different health care stake holders have different definitions of quality determined by their different duties and views of health care. Providers who are the clinicians view it from a technical perspective. They argue that everything done should contribute to the recovery and elimination of a sickness or disease from the patient. They also advocate for accuracy in diagnosing sickness. The payers who pay to facilitate treatment of the patient view the health care in terms of cost-effectiveness. The employers who are the other stakeholders view the heath care in terms of motivation of physicians and the cost of their labor (Lim, 2003). The patient views it from the perspective of accurate communication and kindness of the other stake holders.
Patients being the basic subject of health care have the role of ensuring that the four basic domains of staying in robust health, recovering from sickness, living with disabilities or sicknesses and coping with life till death are upheld. Thus, the patient has to push for changes that will see treatments customized according to patients’ specifications. Clinicians, in this case, intend to provide the best services possible using accurate and modern equipment, and treatments. Furthermore, they are the only people who can recommend that because they have the knowledge. Clinicians have the duty of upholding the human dignity and respect for their patients; hence must obey the limitations of their knowledge and maintain intimacy with patients (Otto, 2005).
Quality management in health care is extremely importance as it is meant to facilitate proper conditions for support of life. Quality management reduces the cost of treatment making it affordable to many which is a key goal of health care. People should be able to consult with their doctors and other health providers without incurring high expenses. Quality management also helps to reduce cases of early deaths as people are able to get medical conditions corrected in good time. It also allows the health care institutions manage finances appropriately so that it can balance its income with the expenses; hence achieve the standards and expected outcomes. Another need for quality management is the streamlining of activities such that time is saved, and desires of respective stakeholders are achieved (Otto, 2005).
Finances are among the areas that need close monitoring. The facilities used in a hospital are acquired through buying, and some of them are very expensive. Some require constant maintenance, which may be specialized, and only a specialist shall be hired to do it. According to Lim (2003), the safety of the patient is another area that must be monitored keenly since the whole health care program is meant to improve a person’s health status. Health providers must cooperate at work and do everything in a manner that no harm is inflicted in the patient. The safety of the health care provider is also very crucial. Clinicians are normally working in an environment in which there are high chances of contracting diseases even from their patients (Lim, 2003).
Accrediting organizations are those led by professionals who set standards to be met by institutions. Therefore, regulatory organizations are set up to check the operations of the institutions. Together, they check the conduct of the stakeholders that leads to improved quality of health care. They set the missions and goals to be achieved clearly. They also define the structure of the health care institution so that accountability and efficiency are achieved (Lim, 2003). Various professional societies and organizations have been put up to facilitate QI. The American Health Quality Association is an organization that promotes health care quality across America. The world health organization is a branch of the UN that promotes quality health care all over the world. Other resources that help it are programs such as Millennium Development Goals that have policies of improving health care (Lim, 2003).
In conclusion, quality improvement in health care is a task of delivering medical services as per the wishes and needs of all the stake holders in health care and must be upheld by everybody together with various organizations, which are private, government-owned, or voluntary. They all work together to uphold the foundational framework of QI. Quality management in health care is very importance as it is meant to facilitate conducive conditions in supporting life. The areas of finance, safety of the patient and the clinician are areas that must be checked closely so as to sustain a health care system.
References
Lim, J. N. W. (2003). Quality in health care: Strategic issues in health care management. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 17(5), 385-387. http://search.proquest.com/docview/197365678?accountid=45049
Otto, D. E. (2005). Health care and quality improvement: A program evaluation case study. University of Phoenix). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 163 p. http://search.proquest.com/docview/305349865?accountid=45049
